THE FULL FACTS

There is the Exceptional circumstances element

Exceptional circumstances (Non-functional descriptors)
There are a small number of cases where the claimant could carry out all the activities in the assessment, but would still qualify for Employment and Support Allowance, either limited capability for work if either of the following criteria apply or limited capability for work related activity if only the second one applies.
The circumstances when this would apply are:
•
A claimant is suffering from a severe life threatening disease in relation to which –
i) there is medical evidence that the disease is uncontrollable, or uncontrolled, by a recognised therapeutic procedure, and
ii) in the case of a disease that is uncontrolled, there is a reasonable cause for it not to be controlled by a recognised therapeutic procedure
•
A claimant is suffering some specific disease or bodily or mental disablement and, by reasons of such disease or disablement, there would be a substantial risk to the mental or physical health of any person if the claimant were found not to have limited capability for work.
The evidence available to the decision maker will include advice from the approved healthcare professional.